Joseph Berrios ( above ) turned back a strong challenge from openly gay candidate Jay Paul Deratany in the race for Cook County Board of Review commissioner.______________
From the Cook County State's Attorney battle to close fights for legislative seats, there were many exciting local races, and in two instances, history was made.
One of Super Tuesday's most exciting races was the Democratic scramble for Cook County State's Attorney. History was made when the first Hispanic and the first woman, Anita Alvarez, won the Democratic primary. As the night wore on, Dick Devine's second-in-command, Robert Milan, and Tommy Brewer dropped out due to low numbers. That left aldermen Tom Allen and Howard Brookins, Jr., along with Devine's chief deputy, Alvarez, and Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin to split 90 percent of the vote. It was a very close race between Alvarez and Allen, but the career prosecutor came out just slightly ahead of the long-time Northwest Side alderman. Reformer and LGBT ally Suffredin came in next with roughly 22 percent. Alvarez—who called a member of Windy City Media Group after her win to express her thanks to the gay and lesbian community for its support—will face Republican Tony Peraica in November.
In addition to the excitement, Illinois history was made on Super Tuesday. Because she ran unopposed in the 40th District, Deb Mell will become the first out lesbian to serve in the Illinois legislature. She will serve alongside openly gay Rep. Greg Harris, who also ran unopposed. Mell, daughter of 33rd Ward Alderman Dick Mell, had no opponent because current Rep. Richard Bradley stepped aside, instead choosing to battle incumbent Iris Martinez for the 20th District Senate seat.
Martinez, who works alongside Senate President Emil Jones as assistant majority leader, took home over 50 percent of the vote in this hotly contested state race. Bradley came in second with slightly over 42 percent with 94 percent of precincts reporting, putting an end to his legislative career.
The LGBT community also had its eye on the fight for LGBT ally Sen. Carol Ronen's seat in the North Side 7th District. Democratic Party contributor Heather Steans defeated community activist Suzanne Elder with nearly 64 percent of the vote. Ronen, who has fought for LGBT rights and was a major supporter of the state's non-discrimination legislation, announced her resignation last October, and endorsed Steans.
In other countywide races, openly gay Cook County Board of Review commissioner candidate Jay Paul Deratany gave incumbent and Democratic Party heavyweight Joseph Berrios a run for his money, but Berrios defeated him with just under 59 percent of the vote, with 83 percent of precincts reporting.
In the race for Recorder of Deeds, Eugene Moore won with over 62 percent of the vote against Ed Smith, with 88 percent of precincts reporting.
In the local judicial races, there was a major upset in an appellate court race, and openly gay candidates did not fare well in two other races.
LGBT ally Justice Alan Greiman was defeated by current Circuit Court Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman—who received roughly 45 percent of the vote with 90 percent of precincts reporting—in the race for the Appellate Court ( Burke Vacancy ) . Also running was William O'Neal, who came in second. Greiman is the current chief judge of the Appellate Court, a title he has held for the past 11 years. He is a former state representative ( 1974-1987 ) , and co-sponsored the state's first gay-rights bill. A later version passed in 2005.
Openly gay 8th Subcircuit ( Sheehan vacancy ) candidate Aaron Weiss did not obtain anywhere near the necessary votes needed on this crowded seven-way contest. Ann Collin Dole came out as the favorite with nearly one-third of the vote. Collins Dole is the chief assistant corporation counsel of the City of Chicago's Department of Law.
Another openly gay judicial candidate, Thomas Doran, who ran for the Circuit Court Montelione vacancy, came far behind party heavyweights Debra Walker and Thaddeus Wilson with under 20 percent of the vote. Walker won.
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